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s one of the longest-running Jewish film festivals in the country, the Patricia & Avraham Ashkenazi and Alma & Howard Laderberg Virginia Festival of Jewish Film educates and engages the diverse Tidewater communities, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, by presenting world-class film premieres, repertory cinema, and programs that are inspired by Jewish history, heritage, and values. This year will be no different. To keep all community members safe, the festival is spread out over months, rather than days. The festival will begin virtually, and hopefully end the festival together—socially distanced —but together. If circumstances arise that require changing the format of screenings, we will do so as necessary. We know that you will enjoy the films selected by an outstanding screening committee, chaired by William Laderberg and Mark Robbins, who work diligently throughout the year to bring the perfect films to our community, and we look forward to “seeing” you at the festival! AN IMPORTANT NOTE: All films can be viewed virtually through Eventive, our box office management and screening platform. We strongly suggest that you review the information available at JewishVa.org/FilmFestival for help getting started with Eventive and creating your personal account, which is necessary to view the films. —Debby Fink and Anne Fleder, Film Festival co-chairs
The Crossing
God Of The Piano
Aulcie
View Virtually Sunday, February 21—Tuesday, February 23 (72 Hours) Johanne Helgeland | 96 min Norway | 2020 Norwegian | Family Friendly
View Virtually Saturday, March 13—Monday, March 15 (72 Hours) Movie available for viewing at your convenience. Reservation required. Zoom Event: Monday, March 15, 7:30 pm A community conversation led by Rabbi Michael Panitz Itay Tal | 80 min Israel | 2019 Hebrew | Not Rated
A Yom Haatzmaut Celebration! An outdoor event with Israeli food. If it rains, the movie will be a drive-in event. Sunday, April 18 Park and Picnic 6:30 pm Conversation with Aulcie Director Dani Menkin (Aulcie Perry invited!) 7:15 pm Film Start 8 pm, reservation required Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community This film will also be available virtually for those who prefer to view it from the comfort of home. Dani Menkin | 75 min | USA, Israel | 2020 English, Hebrew | Not Rated
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movie for the entire family, The Crossing tells the story of the adventurous 10-year-old Gerda and her brother Otto, whose parents are in the Norwegian resistance movement during the Second World War. One day, just before Christmas in 1942, Gerda and Otto’s parents are arrested, leaving the siblings on their own. Following the arrest, they discover two Jewish children, Sarah and Daniel, hidden in a secret cupboard in their basement at home. It is now up to Gerda and Otto to finish what their parents started: To help Sarah and Daniel flee from the Nazis, cross the border to neutral Sweden, and reunite them with their parents. The Crossing is a film about the confidence, uncompromising loyalty and great courage you can find in even the youngest children.
24 | JEWISH NEWS | February 22, 2021 | jewishnewsva.org
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bold take on the power of a woman’s control and a mother’s ambition, first-time director Itay Tal conceives a thought-provoking and seductive film that stirs up controversy in many topics: The fact that someone’s talent could be related to genetics or early manipulation of practices and ideas; a subtle justification of a woman’s desperate actions; the role of an absent male dominance; the pressures on a child whose childhood is evidently stolen due to adults’ self interests. Presenting this fierce and audacious female character, actress Naama Preis gives a superb performance, marked by intense complexity and mystery. She won the Best Actress Award at Jerusalem Film Festival for this incredibly unpredictable role. Observational and highly dramatic, Itay Tal is a filmmaker to watch.
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ulcie tells the inspiring story of Aulcie Perry, a basketball legend who led Maccabi Tel Aviv to an upset win in the European Championship. During the summer of 1976, Perry was spotted by a scout for Maccabi Tel Aviv while playing at the Rucker courts in Harlem and was quickly signed to play for their fledgling team. The Israeli players immediately responded to Aulcie’s leadership and that year they had what one Sports Illustrated writer described as “the most extraordinary season in its remarkable history” and what Perry later called “the best nine months of my life.” In 1977,
